Momentum Travel Teams

Travel Teams has a much different dynamic than the typical local church mission/ministry trip. Travel Teams is a ministry training program because there are guaranteed experiences and practical training that will be included and can be taken back home after tour. Students will meet like-minded teens from all over the country, will be poured into by quality leaders, will have traveled to different ministry locations, and will see ministry in a number of unique settings. By the end of the tour, each member will have training and experience in having spiritual conversations, sharing their testimony, and opportunities to learn from local church ministry professionals. He/she will have been a part of a discipleship group, have intentional focused time with God each day, and learned the meaning of working hard through manual labor projects. Lessons on Godly character traits such as integrity, thankfulness, and purity are emphasized. Note taking is encouraged through journaling, which can be used as a resource for ministry back home. Each young person also receives a personal evaluation from leaders with youth leaders/mentors joining in the conversation to assist students when returning home.

Students will make friendships that will last a life time! Ask anyone who has gone on Travel Teams and they will likely tell you that some of their closest friendships started with fellow team members on their team! It is a summer that is life-changing for most students, as they work together, learning, serving, and being a part of something bigger than themselves!

The traditional, three-week Pacific Travel Team will be headed out to the West Coast.

The two-week specialty teams, Worship & Children’s Ministry, will be in Ohio and Indiana.

The Pacific Team will begin at the Urban Center West Coast on June 14 and conclude on July 5.

The Worship and Children’s Ministry Specialty teams will both begin in Akron, Ohio on July 5 and conclude on July 19.

Apply as soon as possible so you can start making plans. Summer will be here before you know it!
Apply Online

The following are the projected support totals for the various teams:
Pacific Team - $2445.00
Worship Specialty Team - $2445.00 (includes Momentum Youth Conference & Worship Camp Experience, July 19 – 24)
Children’s Ministry Specialty Team - $2045.00

This includes…

• A confirmation deposit upon acceptance to secure spot on team - $400
• Food and lodging
• Discipleship materials, On Track Devotions, and other training materials
• Equipment (rental vans & luggage vehicles, tour supplies, mailings)
• Expenses on tour (ex. Food, laundry, shower rentals)
• If flying to orientation, transportation from the designated airport to orientation site and transportation to the designated airport at the conclusion of tour.
• Staffing, leader expenses
• Team Shirt

This cost does not include…

• Transportation from your home to orientation site. It also does not include transportation home after tour is over.

Keeping costs low is very important to us and there are many opportunities and ideas given to assist students in knowing how to raise support.

Included in the Travel Teams support cost is the confirmation deposit, all food, lodging, and laundry expenses. It also includes tour travel and fuel on Travel Teams vehicles (buses and vans) and complimentary airport transportation to designated airports on specified dates for those flying to orientation or home after tour debriefing.

A Travel Teams journal, team t-shirt, and numerous discipleship resources are also included.

There is scholarship help available. We have never known a student who tried to raise their money not to be able to go on one of our summer ministry teams simply due to finances. God does provide!

Transportation to orientation and back home after Travel Teams is over.

Our Travel Teams Leaders are experienced in youth ministry and love working with students!

All of our leaders have to apply, receive positive references and each has a background check.

Students will also receive training from Momentum Ministry Partners staff, including Eric Miller, Director of Ministry Operations.

Each year is a bit different, depending on the amount of applicants, where the tours are going, and leadership needs and ratios. A typical size team is around 24 students and 4 – 5 adult leaders.

We use a “home base” model for our team housing, which means a designated location to house for most, if not all, of the orientation and tour. Travel Teams students generally sleep on the floor, unless the training site has access to sufficient beds for our students. Students will need to bring a sleeping bag or other bedding.

Regarding safety, all leaders go through an application process with required references and submit to a background check. All of our leaders who will be driving any vehicles go through a driving course for safety certification.

All leaders go through standardized training regarding safety issues and wise decision making. No student is ever left alone, whether in a community service opportunity or assisting the church with ministry. There will always be at least two students together.

Each team has one leader who is designated as the leader responsible for the health issues on the team—leaders travel with health information that parents/guardians provide. Should a health issue arise with a student, leaders will do their best to contact parents/guardians to see how they would like the situation handled.

A packing list will be provided to guide you in what to take on Travel Teams. You are limited to one suitcase, one overnight case or gym bag, a backpack, and one sleeping bag and pillow.

Absolutely. Whether the student is diabetic, gluten free/celiac, lactose intolerant, or even allergic to certain food items like nuts, we are open to working with the student/family as far as what they may need to bring with them on tour and what we can provide. We would ask that if you have any questions about this, you contact Sherilyn at travelteams@buildmomentum.org.

Students may bring a cell phone. Phones and chargers will be collected during orientation, and students will be given periodic access to their phones to call parents weekly and potentially update social media as applicable–students are encouraged and provided opportunities to call home.

iPads and computers should be left at home.